Do you believe the Headless Horseman is real or only a legend?

[disneychrista]

What is a legend if is not a story or work of fiction?

this

A legend is a story that usually has some basis of truth.

 

[Buzz Rules]

this

 

[Buzz Rules]

http://sleepyhollowcemetery.org/historic-fund/the-legend/

 

[belle032]

I am definitely a believer in the supernatural/paranormal/unexplained, but I don't think there is a physical horseman galloping around (although that would be awesome!).

I think the Headless Horseman might just be a legend that has been passed down and expanded upon, but has a base in some truth.

 

[Buzz Rules]

I am definitely a believer in the supernatural/paranormal/unexplained, but I don't think there is a physical horseman galloping around (although that would be awesome!).

I think the Headless Horseman might just be a legend that has been passed down and expanded upon, but has a base in some truth.

A legend is a story that usually has some basis of truth. In this case we know several things. A real Hessian soldier riding on horseback had his head taken off by a cannon ball in the Battle of White Plains October 28, 1776. The Hessian soldier was owed a life debt by the Van Tassel family after he originally saved one of their infant children from death during a fire that his regiment started by lighting their house on fire. This happened before the battle. After he died in battle, the family gave the Hessian a proper burial in the poor's section of the real cemetery. His ghost supposedly started to appear often around midnight especially around the anniversary of the battle. The Hessian himself would be from either Grenadier Regiment von Rahl or Fusilier Regiment von Knyphausen since those were the German troops who fought in the battle. John Andre also is rumored to haunt the cemetery as well. I wish we could identify the Hessian soldier though.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_White_Plains

This might help you decide. The video shows one of the workers of the old Dutch church talking about the facts.

 

[Buzz Rules]

In one week, October 28th, it will be the 244th anniversary of the Battle of White Plains and the anniversary of the day the real headless horseman died. If he truly haunts the Sleepy Hollow cemetery, may he find eternal peace.

 

[mrs. magoo]

I love this legend. In 7th grade my family visited Tarrytown, the Van Cortlandt Manor, Phillpsburg Manor, Lyndhurst Mansion, Sunnyside, Vanderbilt Mansion, the old Dutch Reformed Church, the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. My mother was a history teacher and we basically have visited almost every historical place along the eastern sea board. There were some great ghost stories out of these places. At the Van Cortlandt Manor there was an awesome one about the mistress of the house wanting her spoons back from a Hessian. I believe that all legends are rooted in some historical facts. I also was freaked out by the fox show Sleepy Hollow. I walk at 4:30 AM and was convinced that the Headless Horseman was following me. Of course every year during the month of May I think that Jeepers Creepers is going to swoop down at me too.